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Mary Lou Bailey

What CSEP programs did you participate in?

I participated in SIMS the summer before freshman year, and then once I came to UCSB I was involved in EUREKA and UCLEADS for two years. After this, I was a resident assistant for SIMS and eventually their program coordinator.

Tell me about your experience in EUREKA.

I always liked the idea of doing research, and I really wanted to get a fuller experience in a lab setting, so I thought getting involved in EUREKA would be a great way to do that.

When participating in EUREKA, was there anything that surprised you?

Coming in, I didn't know much about graduate school. I assumed I would be a doctor and go to medical school, so learning about the world of academic research was surprising to me, and finding out that you can get paid to go to graduate school was a plus.

What was the most rewarding part about being an RA for SIMS?

My experience as an RA was probably the most enjoyable thing that I did out of all the CSEP programs. I learned a lot from my RA, and I wanted to share my experience with incoming freshmen. A lot of doors were opened for me though SIMS, and I wanted to guide freshmen in to those opportunities.

Did getting started in research early in your undergraduate degree make a difference?

Getting involved in research as an undergraduate definitely helped me with graduate school, I was able to get so much out of the lab I worked in since I was there for so long. I was able to work on a real project that we ended up publishing at the end of my senior year.

What did you study in your undergrad, and what are you studying now in gradate school?

I studied biology and physics as an undergraduate and am currently at Yale studying applied physics and researching biophysics.

What is your future plan?

I am currently finishing up my second year of PhD, and have about 3 to 4 more years to go. After I graduate, I either want to work in industry for a biotechnology company or continue to research at a national lab.

What do you like to do for fun?

I love going hiking—the Santa Ynez Trail in Santa Barbara is one of my favorites.

Anything else you would like to add?

I’m really thankful for all the opportunities that I’ve had through CSEP. I was able to become a leader, give back to other students, and be a part of that program that really helps people. I owe a lot of my successes to them.